Prompt 30 ~ Live with a poem

This exercise was inspired by Fiona & Kaspa’s podcast on poetry. 

Pick a poem – any poem as long as it’s by someone else, not one of your own.  It can be one you know and love or one that’s completely new to you. 

Now, this is important: once you’ve picked the poem, you cannot go back and pick a different one, no matter how much you are tempted to.  Try to live with whatever feelings come up – even resistance or sudden dislike for some aspect of it, expected or unexpected.  Let the feelings come up, take note of them and then let them be. 

Over the week, take the time to read the poem slowly, meditating on the meaning of each line.  Try not to get too caught up in the literal meanings of the words but focus more on the images or feelings that emerge when you read the lines.  You might want to write down the things that come up for you during this process.

The idea is to live with the poem for a few days, until you’ve learned it by heart, until you can feel each line. 

Once you’ve done this, take the title of the poem and write your own poem in response to that title.

If you’d like to share what you’ve come up with, however rough or polished, post it on your blog and leave a comment below with your post's url.  At least one of us will come over and read it.


Ta!

Prompt 29 - patterns

I have a 'thing' for patterns ...especially visual ones, patterns in nature, the way fields are ploughed, clouds, the washed up sand on a beach... patterns in architecture, geometric forms.

As I was sitting at my computer, looking out the window in distraction, I pondered the ploughed fields on the hillside opposite. I realised that I had my next 26n prompt.

Play with patterns in your writing. It could be a pattern intended to be seen. It could be a pattern intended to be heard. Or both. Play with patterns in your writing.

Please feel free to take part. If you post your writing on your blog, leave the link in the comments section and at least one of us will be over to read it, all happy that other people are playing along at 26n!

I hope your summer was good! It's good to be back here!

Insert witty title here

As previously mentioned, Na & I are taking a break from posting prompts this month.  But, we didn't want to leave you high and dry, so here's some cracking writing to move and inspire you and maybe give you a kick up whatever appendage you want kickage for to enable you to write like your head is on fire...

In no particular order and chosen by me for it's "MUST READ"ness...

Teething by Matthew Brady Klitsch at The Dirty Napkin

Stamp a Little Thankfulness by Jo Gatford (I know her :-)) at Everyday Genius

In the Duck Light by Jo Gatford (yeah, her again, just read her, she's good) at Pank

Gestures by Megan Roberts at Smokelong

Leaving the Garden by Steve Ramey (I know him too, what can I say, I rub binary digits with the cool and talented) at Journal of Compressed Creative Arts

Plus, a fabulous blog I discovered recently...Danielle Davis

And, a book recommendation!  Maira Kelman's The Principles of Uncertainty which started life as a column for the New York Times.

Ok, I think you've got enough to keep you going for a couple of weeks.  Enjoy!

Prompt 28 ~ I can't write....because.....

Is there some aspect of writing about which you often think, “I can’t do that.”  For me, for a long time it was, “I can’t write descriptions.”  And then, “I can’t write about things that aren’t based in some way on my experience.”  And then, “I can’t write short stories.”  And then, “I can’t write really short stories.”  Do you know how I managed to prove myself wrong each time?  By sitting down and writing.  So, I’d like you to complete the above sentence.  Then sit down and write.  By the end of it, I want you to have proved yourself wrong.

If you want to share the fruit of your labours, please leave a comment with the link to your post and at least one of us will come over and read it.

Ta!

~

We're going to be taking a break from posting prompts in August.  If the thought of this makes you wail, then please go ahead and submit a prompt idea or more to us at write26n (at) gmail (dot) com by the end of this month. If we like it, we'll use it for the month of August or beyond. 

 

*** I've just realised that we've given you the wrong email address in previous posts for submitting a prompt!  Eeeek.  Apologies.  So if you have submitted a prompt by email to us, can you please resubmit it to the correct address which is write26n (at) gmail (dot) com ***

Prompt 27 - Representing you...

- If you were a colour, which colour would you be?
- If you could listen to any piece of classical music, which would it be?
- If you could live in any city, which would you choose? (It doesn't matter if you've actually been there or not.)
- Which do you prefer, day or night?
- If you could catch any smell accidentally drifting through the air, which would it be?


...take the colour, the piece of music, the city, the time of day and the smell and go write something that includes them all. Create atmosphere; atmosphere that is somehow representing you.


Have fun!


Please feel free to take part. If you post your writing on your blog, leave the link in the comments section and at least one of us will be over to read it, with glee!


We're going to be taking a break from posting prompts in August.  However, we'd like to invite you to submit a prompt idea (or two or more) to us and if we like it, we'll post it up in August giving you full credit and linking to your blog or website.  To submit a prompt please email us at write26(at)gmail(dot)com by the end of this month.

Prompt 26 ~ 26 lines

I was told by treeshadowmoon that since I have the 26th prompt, I'd better do it with style.  Hmmmm.  I don't know about that.  First I thought I'd post 26 prompts but that would be overkill.  So here's what we're going to do.  This week, you choose the subject to write about.  Then, write a 26 line poem, story or list without naming the subject.  Would a reader be able to tell what you've written about?

If you'd like to find out, post a link to your writing in the comments below and at least one of us will come over and read it.

Thanks!

PS We're going to be taking a break from posting prompts in August.  However, if this saddens you, then we'd like to invite you to submit a prompt idea (or two or more) to us and if we like it, we'll post it up in August giving you full credit and linking to your blog or website.  To submit a prompt please email us at write26n(at)gmail(dot)com by the end of this month.

Prompt 25 - it's all around you

Sit down, empty page in front of you and a pencil in your hand. Don't listen to your mind or heart, your inner voice. Chart what your senses are perceiving around you. Down to the small details. The sounds, the smells, the sights, the tastes, the touch.

Wait as long as you like - for a set time, or for a set page-space, or simply until you grow tired...but generally the more you wait, the more you'll begin to notice.

Enjoy your microcosm.

As usual, feel free to participate. The more, the merrier!